Today the channel seven news and many other news outlets are dispatching similar stories. Yet, many media outlets are virtually inciting against Muslims and they are not giving Muslims an opportunity to explain their side of the story.

Christian Democrats MP Reverend Fred Nile says he is trying to protect Australia's future by opposing the construction of an Islamic school in Sydney's south-west.

The Quranic Society has lodged a $19 million development application for a 1,200-place school at Camden, sparking outrage among many locals.

More than 1,000 people flocked to a community meeting about the school in Camden on Wednesday night, with the riot police called in to control the large number present.

Rev Nile gave a speech about Islam's opposition to Christianity, telling the meeting some Muslim schools overseas had produced terrorists.

The state MP has today rejected criticism from Quranic Society spokesman Jeremy Bingham, who said yesterday "overzealous" Christians needed to remember the crusades were over."It's no good putting your head in the sand as they've done in the UK, France and Holland," Rev Nile said.

"Now they have massive social problems [and] I don't want to see those problems in Australia."They may not occur, they won't be occurring tomorrow, but they may.

"We may be discussing this on the ABC in 2010 [or] 2020, when people are throwing up their hands saying, 'How did we allow this situation to develop?'"

Christmas concernsRev Nile says he is concerned about the Islamic attitude towards Christmas."Let's celebrate Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, which is condemned in the Koran, which is a textbook of Muslim schools," he said.

"The textbook says anyone who serves Jesus Christ, the son of God, is a corrupt or perverted unbeliever, 'God assail them'. That's my concern."

Both Islamic and Christian groups say they do not support Rev Nile's comments.The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says his interpretation of the Koran and Christmas is completely wrong.

Council president Ikebal Patel says Jesus is a prophet of Islam, and Muslims in Australia do enjoy and celebrate the Christmas period.

"In Islam, Christmas is a time for relaxing with family, for exchanging gifts," he said.

"It's also a time when you really reflect on the past year and I think its a time when you take your children into the shopping mall and have Santa put them on their laps and you take photos."

Mr. Patel has invited Rev Nile to have a coffee with him and learn more about Islam.

"I think Fred is running the danger of inciting prejudice and distress in the community when there is no need for such fear," he said.

Camden Mayor Chris Patterson says the council expects to make a decision on the school by March next year.

Councillor Patterson says more than 3,000 public submissions have been received opposing the school, many covering concerns about traffic and potential overdevelopment of the site.But he says a small amount voiced racial and religious opposition.